The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-06-01
The Fire Begins It's Dssolating Work After
the First Act Of "Mlgnon."
Details Of the Destruction Of the 0psra COmiquc
Of the French CAPITAL.
The Latest Information Places the Total L,ss
Of Life at Sixty.
Burning of the Opera Comique at Paris
and Terrible Loss of Life.

of the opera of .sMignon." One OF the
wings caught fire from gas-jet, and the
entire stage was Immediately enveloped in
flames. The fire soon spread to the whole
house. Madame Mergvilier and M. NJ.
Tasquim and Bernard were on the stage
when the fire broke out All the actors ran
out in stage costume. The audience got off
easily, but the gas was turned of before all
left the building, and it is feared that some
were left in the upper tiers. The roof soon
fell in, sending showers of sparks as
far as the Place de la Bourse. With
the exception of Madame Teller,
who persisted, all the actors es-
capped, although several supernumeraries
are injured severely. Five bodies, terribly
burnt, were conveyed to the National
Library. Among them was the body of a
woman clasping little boy in her arms.
The money receipts were saved and de-
posted in the Gauloi's Office.
The fremen showed the greatest cour-
age. VIM. Gablet, ThiSaudin and Greg
non were on the spot soon after the fire
started and remained throughout with the
FIRE officials. A military club rendered
great assistance in the work of rescuing
the people from the building. Nineteen
persons are known 70 be dead. Many of
these are supers. The artificial
fire apparatus, which bad been placed IN
position in readiness for the burning of
the palace, in the second act, rolled down
from its place near the roof, and exploded
below. The women, half clad, carrying
their costumes, fled FROM the stage, scream
ing. The superS and members of the chorus
were terrified. Some of the latter fed
with nothing on but tights. The flames
spread with such rapidity that in fifteen
minutes the stage was a vast furnace.
Several actors escaped by climbing to the
roof on the side OF the Rue Marivanta,
where they were rescued by fire escapes.
NJ he IN
remain seated until the exits were opened,
which they did. If they had made rush
for the doors the loss of life would have
been terrible. The police outside were un-
able 10 restrain the crowd, who besIegsd
the building, inquiring for friends
was formed. One man who wanted to res
eue his brother and sister, raved, tore his
bair and menaced with a stick people who
stopped him from rushing into the blazing
building The scene outside was one of
the widest excitement Falling embers
struck the horses in the surrounding streets,
causing them to plunge and rear. Flames
shot out of every window, forcing the
crowd into the narrow streets, where the
crush was terrific.
Madame Figurante says there were $50
persons on the stage when the fire broke
out. She heard the glass falling like hail
storm, but told the other girls not to mind
it. But while she was speaking a column
of fame burst through the wings with a
roar, and all rushed pell-mell from
the stage. Many policemen were
injured. It is still unknown
how many persons were unable to escape
Eom the building. Only fortnight ago
NJ. Steenackers called attention in the
Chamber of Deputies to the dangerous
condition Of the Opera Comique, the oldest
The Figaro also called attention to the
same thing after recent twelve-hour ben
eft performance.
The Havas News Agency places the num-
Der of persons killed and injured by the
fire at sixty. The theater was completely
destroyed. O. "a
PARIS, May 26.-The bodies OF ballet
dancers who lost their lives by the burn
ing of the Opera Comique last night are
lying in heaps in the ruins of the thester.
The iremen assert that many bodies are
lying in the upper galleries. The number
of persons killed greatly exceed the
previous estimates. An excited crowd sur
rounded the ruins which are guarded by
a military Gordon. Many distressing
scenes are witnessed.
Up. m.-Twenty bodies in a terribly
mutiIated condition have been recovered
from the ruins. The remains are princi-
pally those of ballet girls, choristers and
machinists. Five OF the bodies are those
y
Child. The firemen are lowering some
of the bodies from the fourth story OF the
theater by means CT ropes.
4p. m.-Twenty more bodies were re-
covered this afternoon from the ruins of
the Theater Comique. Search for victims
still continues
The remains of three men and two
women were found in the stage box, where
the victims had taken refuge from the
flames. 1t is ascertained that many bodies
Lie buried in the debris in the upper gal
ler1es, where escape was exceedingly diff
cult. The Government proposes TO close
several Of the Paris theaters because Of
their deficiency in exits.
Late this afternoon the bodies of nine
teen women, all in full dress, were found
lying together at the bottom of the stair
ease leading from the second story. These
ladies all bad escorts to the theater but no
remains of men were und anywhere near
where the women were burned to death.
The walls of the theatsr began falling this
evening, and the search for bodies had to
be abandoned for the day. The library at.
tached to the theater was entirely de-
stroyed, with all its contents, including
many valuable scores Six thousand cos
tunes were burned in the wardrobe.
The work of searching for the bodies was
resumed tonight, and q number more
we're exhumed. An official statement says
cred. M. Reveillon, speaking IN the
Chamber OF Deputies this afternoon, esti-
mated that at least 200 persons had lost
their lives in the fire.
One hundred and fifty-six missing per.
IONS have been inquired for by relatives
They are supposed to have persisted in the
flames. The bottom Of the theater Is flood
ed with water to the depth of FIVE feet
Sixty bodies have been found floating In
the water by the firemen.
Among the audience at the Comique last
night were General Boulanger, General
SaUssler, General Thibaudin, NJ. Goblet
n. Berthelot, Marquis Ferronayis, and the
project Of police. All escaped unhurt.
An artist nsmed.Philippe performed prod.
1gits of valor in saving life. He mounted
q ladder three times and saved three dan
seues after they had been abandoned By
the fremen.
In the Rue Favart sudden gust of wind
cleared away the smoke, when q woman